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Office of Human Resources

Director of the University Libraries

Bethel University announces a search for a director of the university libraries to provide dynamic and collaborative leadership for a creative library staff, to enhance the excellence of Bethel library services, and to help shape the future innovations of the Bethel library system.

Bethel University offers traditional undergraduate education to 2,800 students on its St. Paul campus, adult and graduate education to approximately 2,000 students in the region and online, and seminary education to more than 1,000 students through campuses in San Diego, St. Paul, and four locations on the East Coast. Currently, 230 full-time and 215 part-time faculty members participate in this work.

Affiliated historically with the Baptist General Conference/Converge Worldwide, Bethel has a mission built around an integration of faith and learning (see http://www.bethel.edu/about-bu/mission-vision.html). Boldly informed and motivated by the Christian faith, Bethel educates and energizes men and women for excellence in leadership, scholarship, and service. We prepare graduates to serve in strategic capacities to renew minds, live out biblical truth, transform culture, and advance the gospel.

The director of the university libraries supports the mission of the university, including the academic programs, faculty, and students in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Adult and Professional Studies/Graduate Studies, and the Seminary. This support includes traditional library services as well as an Information Commons where instructional technology consultants and library staff collaborate to enrich the educational experiences of Bethel’s students, and to support faculty in their teaching and research.

The director of the university libraries has faculty status and reports to the provost. The director leads all of Bethel’s libraries in working collaboratively in the following ways:

  • planning strategically for the maintenance and development of the libraries’ technological innovations
  • establishing and maintaining advantageous consortial relationships
  • building strategic relationships with Information Technology Services
  • coordinating budgetary decisions involving shared resources of the university and seminary libraries

The director also fulfills daily responsibilities for the collections, services, and facilities of the university library, including:

  • overseeing and developing the library staff
  • advocating for the library with the administration
  • representing the library to faculty, students, and alumni
  • pursuing opportunities for the library to partner with other units or departments in the institution
  • developing and supporting fund-raising efforts
  • serving on faculty and institutional committees
  • preparing and managing the annual budget

Responsibilities


Leadership

1. University library:

  • Recruit, hire, supervise, and develop the library staff.
  • Establish and maintain standards and expectations for departmental work performance.
  • Review and evaluate employee performances on a regular basis.
  • Develop the annual budget and oversee expenditures and allocations.
  • Evaluate and make recommendations and/or purchases for equipment needs.
  • Select appropriate hardware and software for library applications and use.
  • Compile, manage, and communicate library data and statistics for assessment and development purposes.


2. Seminary libraries:

  • Recruit, hire (in consultation with the Dean of the Seminary), and supervise the directors of the seminary libraries.
  • Collaborate with the seminary library directors in hiring of library staff.
  • Collaborate on and oversee budget planning.
  • Coordinate strategically with seminary libraries in other areas as opportunities arise.
  • Confer regularly with the seminary library directors.


3. All libraries:

  • Coordinate and oversee automation and database management systems.
  • Create ways to facilitate interaction among staff.


Development

  1. Maintain and develop consortial relationships with internal and external entities.
  2. Maintain and update information delivery options with vendors.
  3. Oversee and facilitate on-going library automation.
  4. Oversee and facilitate the development of a Digital Library.
  5. Continue to build a strategic relationship with Information Technology Services in creating more integrated information services and instruction for students and faculty at all libraries.
  6. Assess and implement strategies for continuous improvement in library services, collections, access, and technology.
  7. Develop collaborative relationships with other departments and offices to enhance the library’s effectiveness.
  8. Pursue fund-raising opportunities and structures.


Representation

  1. Represent Bethel on the Board of Directors and committees of several consortia, including (but not limited to) CLIC and Minitex.
  2. Advocate for the library with the administration.
  3. Serve on institutional and faculty committees as assigned.
  4. Represent the library to both internal (e.g., faculty and students) and external (e.g., alumni) clientele.
  5. Participate in appropriate professional organizations.

Qualifications

  1. ALA-accredited MLS/MLIS; additional master’s degree strongly preferred.
  2. Minimum of 5 years of appropriate administrative experience in an academic library.
  3. Strong record of excellent, collaborative leadership in the profession.
  4. Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with departments and colleagues across the institution.
  5. Evidence of skill and experience in strategic planning.
  6. Demonstrated expertise in financial planning and budgeting.
  7. Knowledge of all aspects of library operations.
  8. Conversant with intellectual property and copyright law interpretation.
  9. Clear vision for the academic library’s role in support of learning, teaching, and research at the undergraduate, graduate, and adult learner levels in the liberal arts, professional programs, and seminary education.
  10. Keen grasp of, and active involvement in, issues in higher education, libraries, and information technology.
  11. Knowledge of emerging trends in learning technology and electronic information management.
  12. Strong interpersonal relationship skills.
  13. Effective communication abilities, including writing, listening, and speaking skills.
  14. Evidence of skill in developing successful and effective teams by building consensus and working collaboratively.
  15. Demonstrated ability to facilitate the professional growth of personnel.
  16. Demonstrated ability to advocate effectively for the library.
  17. Demonstrated ability to represent the library and its services to all clientele clearly and consistently.


In addition, the candidate must be committed to the liberal arts educational mission and evangelical Christian orientation of the university and demonstrate commitment to excellence in student learning, mentoring staff, and supporting scholarship. Candidate must demonstrate the ability to contribute to Bethel’s anti-racism efforts and cross-cultural understanding.

Letter of interest and vita should be sent to Sarah Sauerbry (s-sauerbry@bethel.edu) in the Office of Human Resources. Applications reviewed as received.